This one of my Aviation related post, Flying Airmail was a lucrative business for many new airplane owners, it was a guaranteed income stream. Boeing recognizing the lucrative possibilities designed a plane for that market segment.
This monoplane helped the market shift away from the traditional biplanes of the time with its sleeker design. According to Boeing, the plane had a wingspan of over 59 feet and a length of just under 42 feet. The
wing was set lower, and its smooth build was made of entirely metal and
had no struts. The early form of the standard modern plane can be seen
in the structure of this model.
Other
vital advancements of the Monomail include its retractable landing gear
and the streamlined fuselage. Moreover, its engine was covered by an
antidrag cowling, adding to the aerodynamic design of the plane.
The first edition of the Monomail was the
Model 200. Much like several pioneering aircraft of this era, it was a
mail plane. It saw success on a route between Chicago and San Francisco
from July 1931.
The unit
weighed 8,000 lbs and could accommodate approximately 1,500 pounds of
goods. It could reach a range of 500 miles with a top speed of 158 mph
and a cruising speed of 135 mph. Additionally, it could hit a ceiling of
14,700 feet with its 575-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Hornet B
engine.
Unfortunately, pilot Alva Lucas crashed a monomail while delivering mail from Montana to Wyoming in October 1935. According to Colorado Wreck Chasers, the aircraft descended too soon and impacted terrain 13 miles south of Glendo.
Boeing
also designed another variant for passenger use in the form of the
Model 221. This edition’s fuselage was stretched by eight inches and
gave up some shipping capacity to carry six passengers. Additionally,
the plane’s pilot handled the front in an open cockpit, taking off for
the first time on August 18th, 1930.
However,
it was the introduction of the transcontinental passenger service
aircraft, Model 221A that left an even bigger impact. This model revised
the earlier units with slight fuselage extensions to enable a cabin
that can hold eight passengers inside. This type saw commercial success
as United Airlines (then United Air Lines) took it on for its Cheyenne to Chicago operations.
Boeing
admits that one of the significant drawbacks of the Monomail was that
it was ahead of its time. The design was too progressive for the engines
and propellers that were around
The plane needed a low-pitch propeller
for departing and a high-pitch propeller to cruise while in the air.
However, by the time variable-pitch propellers arose, new multiengine
aircraft entered the market. Subsequently, the 200 Monomail was retired
in 1933
P-26 "PeaShooter"
Nonetheless,
it was the Monomail that set the standard for these modern planes. The
designs of the B-9 and the P-26 Peashooter, both drew inspiration from
the Monomail.
Additionally, the Model
247 is perhaps the most crucial offspring from the Monomail. The
airliner was operated by both commercial airlines and the military. Key
holders included Avianca,
Lufthansa, Canadian Pacific Airways, the United States Army Air Corps,
the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Therefore, the
aircraft indeed catalyzed Boeing’s international presence.
Altogether,
the Monomail lived a short but impactful life. Its emergence in the
1930s helped shape the aviation industry for one of its most important
periods heading into World War II.
US aviation was able to build on the revolutions that the aircraft
offered to take operations to greater heights throughout the century. What caused the retirement of the Boeing Monomail was the airlines getting the contract to deliver the mail and it created a scandal in the process.
Charges of corruption in the air mail system led President
Roosevelt to cancel all air mail contracts. The Army resumed carrying
the mail.
Federal reforms enacted in 1930 gave most routes and air mail
contracts to big airline holding companies. Small, independent airlines
complained this was unfair, even though most had sold their own
contracts and some did not even exist when the law was passed.The independents fought to break the holding companies' power. Their efforts led to congressional hearings and unfounded charges of corruption and conspiracy to monopolize the air mail. Responding to political pressure, President Franklin Roosevelt canceled all domestic air mail contracts on February 9, 1934. The Army Air Corps was again called upon to carry the mail.
Interesting bits of little known history of the airlines/mail service.
ReplyDeleteHey Old NFO;
DeleteI remembered reading about the airmail scandal from a series of books that I own from the early 80's "Epic of Flight" from Time/Life Books.